Engine starter



y 1933- R. BERTSCHE, JR 1,912,061

ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 15, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 y 1933. R.BERT'SCHE, JR 1,912,061

ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 15, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ma 30,1933. R.BERTS4CHE', JR 1,912,061

ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 15, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 30, 3 R. BERTSCHE.JR 1,912,061

ENGINE STARTER Filed Nov. 15. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 7 v 75 I 76 M VIA-L 705 VII/IliZLIl/l. 5.3

Patented May 39, 1933 earns ATEN'E OFFICE BER-T561251, 3.3., GBANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-R-EIEY CORPORA- TION, OF DAYTON,OHIO, A CORPOR'ATEON OF IDELAVVARE ENGINE STARTER Application filedNovember 15, 1928. Serial no. 319,696.

This invention relates to engine starters which comprise a motor drivinga pinion which is manually movable endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started.

()ne object of the present invention is to minimize breakage of gearteeth resulting from attempting to mesh gears while the starting motoris operating. This aim is ac complished by an improved manually operablemeans for compelling the pinion to turn relative to the engine gearwhile being manually pressed against the engine gear in order to compelthe pinion to mesh with the engine gear to a substantial degree beforethe starting motor is caused to operate. More particularly, the presentinvention provides for rotating the pinion normally in a certaindirection in case of gear tooth abutment, and also in the oppositedirection in case rotation in the normal direction is abnormallyresisted.

The present invention is illustrated and described in connection with anengine starter which comprises a shaft operated by an electric motor andmeans for connecting the shaft with a gear of an engine to be started,said means including a pinion mounted on the shaft for longitudinalmovement thereof into mesh with the engine gear and rotary movementtherewith for driving the engine gear, said means including alsoprovisions whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed from theengine gear when the engine starts. In the preferred form of enginestarting apparatus of this type the shaft is provided with helicalsplines with which the pinion is connetcted and along which the pinionis slidable.

This starter includes a mechanism which can be operated manually or byfoot pressure to move the pinion into mesh with the engine gear andafterward to close a switch which will cause the motor to turn theshaft, said mechanism including provisions whereby the pinion will berotated in the two direc.

tions mentioned to compel the pinion to move into meshing registrationwith the engine gear, in case the teeth of the pinion collide with theengine gear teeth. The mechanism is so arranged that the pinion will beautomatically demeshed regardless of whether the operator fails torelease the manually actuatable member which controls the gear shiftingmechanism.

One form of engine starter to which the present invention may be appliedis disclosed in the oopending application of John B. lfia yggr, Serial.No. 245,300, filed January 9,

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, side view, partly in longitudinal section, of astarting apparatus embodying the present invention, the sectional viewbeing on the line 1-11 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of arrow e ofFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showingthe condition of the enginestarting apparatus at the instant of bringing the pinion into meshingrelation'with the engine gear, the sectional view of Fig. 5 being takenon the line 555 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectionalview on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 7 of Fig. 6.

-Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the condition of theapparatus at the instant of closing the motor switch.

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8 showing the condition of theapparatus after the engine becomes self-operative and before theactuator has been released by the operator.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow 12of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the sleeve element of the apparatus.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank used to form a part of theelement shown in F i 18. Fig. 14 shows also diagrammatically therelative positions of certain parts with which the sleeve is operativelyassociated, these positions being taken relatively during the operationof the starter.

Figs. 15 to 19 are sectional views respectivcly on similarly markedsection lines of Fig. 14.

Fig. 20 is a view similar to F1 9 and shows the positions of certainparts after the starter has been operated to compel rotation of thepinion in case rotation of the pinion by manual effect has beenabnormally resisted.

Referring to the drawings, theiield frame 20 of the starting motor. issecured in any suitable way to a bracket and gear housing frame 21 whichis adapted to be secured in the usual man er to that part of the engineframe which encloses the engine flywheel which is provided with a gear22. The starting motor includes an armature shaft 23 journalied in abearing provided by the frame 21 and at the opposite end, in a similarbearing, supported by the field frame in the usual manner. The shaft 23is provided with helical splines 25 which, between shoulder portions 25aand 25?), are less in external diameter than other portions of thesesplines for a purpose to be described. A pinion 26 is providedinternally with spiral splines adapting the pinion to slide endwisealong the'shaft splines 25 into mesh with the engine gear 22, andadapting the pinion to be driven by the shaft 28 for the purpose ofcranking the engine. Vvhen the pinion 26 is in normal position out ofmesh with the engine gear, its internal splines are supported upon thatportion of the splines 25 between the shoulders 25a and 255- Since thepinion must be elevated in moving from the position shown in Fig. 1 tothat shown in Fig. 5 in passing over the shoulder portions 25?), it isevident that the pinion will be yieldingly retained in normal positionthus overcoming a tendency to drift into engagement with the engine geardue to vibration of the engine or vehicle propelled by it. As the pinionis moved into mesh with the engine gear by a mechanism to be described,an in ternal annular shoulder 2? provided by the pinion will engage aresilient wire split ring 28 and will cause it to be contracted within agroove 29 which the shaft 23 provides for receiving the ring. Theinternal diameter of the shoulder 2? is such that the shoulder will bepermitted to move toward the right past the ring 28 while the ring isbeing squeezed into the groove. After the shoulder 2? has moved past thering 28, the ring will expand within an internal annular groove 80 inthe pinion and will therefore yieldingly retain the pinion in gearmeshing position. lVhile the pinion is being 0perated by the motor tocrank the engine, the conical surface 31 provided by it, will abut thering 28 which delivers the end. thrust from the pinionto theshaft23. Endthrust is delivered from the shaft 28 to the frame 21 througl-i a washer32 received by a groove 32a in the shaft 23 and bearing against amachined surface provided by the frame 21.

The manually operable mechanism for moving the pinion into mesh with theen gine gear and for causing the motor thereafter to operate comprises apedal rod which slides through a floorboard 41 of an automobile and isconnected at 42 with a lever 43 pivoted upon a screw 44 attached to theframe 21. The lever 48 is arranged to contact with a switch actuatingplunger 45 supported by a case 46 which is attached by screws 47 to thefield frame 20 and which encloses the switch contacts. When the switchactuator 45 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the switch is open andwhen in the positions shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the switch is closed. Aspring 48 moves the actuator 45 from the switch closed to switch openposition. The lever 43 carries at its lower end a pin or stud 50 adaptedto be received by the oblique slot 51 provided in the sleeve 52 which isformed by bending the sheet metal blank 53 shown in Fig. 14 intocylindrical form. A. tubular rivet 54, which is slidab-le along theshaft 23, cooperates with apertured discs 55 as shown in 1 in order tohold the sleeve 52 in concentric spaced relation to the tubular rivet54. The blank 53 used to formv the sleeve 52 is provided with notches 57and 58, which after the sleeve 52 has been formed into a cylinder andassembled with the parts 54, 55 and 56, receive respectively lugs 59 and60 which are struck from the discs 55 respectively as shown in Figs. 4and 13 respectively. By the conventional staking operations, the discs55 are connected with the rivet 54.

Rotation in either direction is imparted from the sleeve 52 to thepinion 26 by aX- ially engageable clutches, the driving clutch 56 beingprovided by a sleeve having clutch teeth 62 adapted to engage clutchteeth 68 provided by shaping the adjacent ends of the teeth of thepinion 26. The sleeve 52 and its clutch 56 are connected for limitedlinear and rotary movement by providing the clutch 56 with inwardlyextending tangs 156 received by notches 157 provided by the sleeve 52and including oblique portions. Relative linear motion between thesleeve 52 and its clutch 56 is resisted by a spring 158 surrounding thesleeve hub 54 and hearing at one end against the tangs 156 and at itsother end against a spacer sleeve 159 abutting the left end disc 55.

Obviously the force applied by the pin 50 to the sleeve 52 tends notonly to move the sleeve endwise but also to rotate it. Since it isdesirable to begin the operation of gear meshing by simply pushing thesleeve 52 endwise in order to move the pinion 26 into engagement withthe engine gear 22 and to reserve the operation of rotating the sleeveuntil the time it is needed in order to bring the pinion into meshingregistration with the engine gear, the apparatus provides for resistingrotation of the sleeve so that the relation of the slot 51 and the pin50 will be maintained at least during that portion of the movement ofthe sleeve which is required to push the pinion into contact with theengine gear. The means which resists rotation of the sleeve under theseconditions is provided by a plunger which is slidably supported 'adiallyof the shaft 28 by a recess 71 provided by the frame 21, and which ispressed by a spring 72 against a projecting portion 7 3 of the sleevewhich defines a longitudinally extending ridge 74 relatively gradual.The projection 7 3 is formed by partially shearing away the metal of theblank 58 along the line ab and c-(Z shown in Fi 14; and in shaping thisportion as shown in perspective in 13. The projection 73 thereforeprovides a surface 7 5 against which the plunger 7 O normally rests, theridge 74 which is at a greater distance radially from the center of theshaft 23 than the surface 75, and a surface 76 which extends from theridge 74 to the main cylindrical portion of the sleeve 52. Movement ofthe pin 50 toward the right in the drawings for the purpose of pushingthe pin ion 26 into engagement with the engine gear 22, will tend torotate the sleeve 52 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. It isobvious that due to the engagement of the plunger 70 with the ridge 7%rotation of the sleeve 52 will be yieldingly resisted.

The blank 53 is out out along the curved lines cZ-g and g/-]z(Z to forman opening and the metal is sheared along the lines and f@ in order topermit the formation of a lug 77 which may be described as starting fromthe ridge 74+ and so shaped as to provide a portion 78 which as shown inFig. 2, extends away from the sleeve 52 and which as shown in Fig. 4,slopes from a portion 78a most remote from the sleeve 52 over to theportion 7 8b which merges with the sleeve. The edge portion 79 of thelug 77 provides a stop for engagement with the plunger 70 for a purposeto be described. From the portion 78b to the free end of the lug 77 thelug diminishes in width as shown particularly in Figs. 11 and 3 in orderto provide clearance for the motion of the lug 77 relative to theplunger 70 without the lug touching the plunger.

In order that there may be a tendency for the sleeve to rotate with theshaft, the sleeve is provided with a hole 80 (see Fig. 14) for receivingthe shank 81 of a plunger 82 extending through a hole 83 in the tube 54and pressed by a spring 84 against the shaft 23 as shown in Fig. 2. Byconnecting the shaft and sleeve with a friction coupling the shaftcauses the sleeve to be automatically retracted from the pinion in amanner and for a purpose which will be apparent hereafter.

he pedal 40 is yieldingly retained in normal position as shown in Fig. 1by a spring 90 retained by a recess 91in the frame 21 and pressing thehead 92 of a plunger 93 surrounded by the spring into engagement withthe lever 43 tending to rotate the lever clockwise.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

To start the engine, the operator will press the pedal 40 causing thelever 43 to move clockwise and the sleeve 52 to move into engageinentwith the pinion 26 and the pinion to moveinto engagement with the gear22 as shown in Fig. 5. During this motion of the sleeve endwise theplunger 7 0 remains in engagement with the surface and the ridge 74 andthereby yieldingly resists rotation of the sleeve 52 in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2, although, during the endwise movement ofthe sleeve 52, the pin 50 coasts with the sleeve in such manner as totend to rotate the sleeve in this direction. By the time the pinion hasbeen pushed by the sleeve against the gear 22 the relative motionbetween the plunger 70 and sleeve will be such that the plunger WJlloccuDV the position indicated by the dash and dot line circle 70a inFig. Assuming" that the ends of the pinion teeth abut the ends of thegear teeth 22 before meshing, endwise motion of the sleeve 52 will bearrested. If the operator continues to press the pedal 40, the sleevewill be rotated due to the cooperation of the pin 50 and the wallsdefining the oblique slot 51. By reason of the clutch teeth 62 and 63,rotation is transmittcd from the sleeve 52 to the pinion 26. The lug 77will therefore rotate relative to the plunger 70 in order to bring theplunger 7 O in new relation to the sleeve. At the instant the pinion hasbeen located in meshing registration with the gear, the plunger will belocated relative to the lug 77 as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. It will beseen that the plunger is located upon substantially the highest part ofthe surface 78 or that part most remote from the shaft. Relative to thesleeve 52, the plunger has moved from the position 70a in the directionof the arrow 95 into the position represented by the dash and dot linecircle 70?).

As the operator continues to press the pedal 40, the sleeve and pinionwill move from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in in Fig. 8,and during this movement, the lug 77 will slide from contact with theplunger 70. The relative motion of the plunger and sleeve is indicatedby the arrow 96 in Fig. 3, and when the plunger is locates. relative tothe sleeve as shown in Fig. 8, the plunger will be located asrepresented by the dash and dot line circle 700 in Fig. 3. During themovement of the sleeve from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shownin Fig. 8, the inclined surface between the parts 78a and 78b of the lug77 will be engaged by the plunger. T herefore as the sleeve moves towardthe right in the drawings; the plunger will be permitted to approach theshaft. When the surface 78 is well lubricated the plunger will actuallyassist to move the pinion into engagement with the gear.

The sleeve is now free of the pinion and is prepared to be automaticallyretracted from the pinion so that when the pinion is thrown out of meshwith the engine gear it will not be hindered by the sleeve.

By the time the lever 43 has been moved sufficiently to locate thesleeve and pinion as shown in Fig. 8, the motor switch will be closed tocause the shaft 23 to rotate in a clockwise direction when viewed in thedirection of the arrow 8a in Fig. 8. Due to the helical splinedconnection between the pinion 26 and the shaft 23, tile motor willautomatically move the pinion the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8to the dot and dash line position 26a, thereby moving the pinion intoengagement with the stop ring 28 and connecting the pinion for rotationwith the shaft. The pin 50 of the lever l3 being stationary during theengine cranking operation, the sleeve 52 will be automatically movedfrom the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9 due to thecooperation between the pin 50 and the sleeve walls defining the spiralslot 51. The sleeve 52 tends to follow the shaft since it isfrictionally connected with it by the spring pressed plunger 82. l'Vhenthe sleeve is in the position shown in Fig. 9 and before the pedal isreleased, the relation of the sleeve and plunger is as shown in Figs. 9,10, 11 and 12. During the movement of the sleeve 52 from the positionshown. in 8 to that shown in Fig. 9, the relative motion between theplunger and sleeve is indicated by the arrow 97 in Fig. 3. The locationof the plunger 70 relative to the sleeve as shown in 9 to 12 inclusiveis represented by the end portion 70d of the plunger indicated by dotand dash lines in Fig. 3. Since the path of relative movement of theplunger as indicated by the arrow 97 is necessarily parallel to theoblique slot 51 in the sleeve 52, it is apparent that the lug 77 must betapered as shown in order to avoid contact between the plunger 70 andlug 77 while the lug moves relative to the plunger.

l Vhen the engine becomes self-operative, the pinion will beautomatically demeshed from the engine gear due to the fact that thereis a reversal of torque transmission between the gear 22 and pinion 26since the gear is driving the pinion faster than it can be driven by themotor. The pinion will therefore be automatically moved into theposition shown in Fig. 9 after the engine be,- comes self-operative.However, before this occurs the sleeve will have been moved into theposition shown in Fig. 9 so that the pinion may be automaticallydemeshed without colliding with tne sleeve. When the operator releasesthe pedal 40, the spring 90 will be released to move the lever 4:3clockwise and to restore the normal relation between the pin 50 andsleeve 52 as shown in Fig. 1. While the pin 50 moves from the positionshown in Fig. 9 to that position shown in ig. 1, the sleeve 52, beingresiliently urged against a stop member 100, will be rotated from theposition, shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 1 or in a clockwisedirection as viewed in. Fig. 2. During this motion of the sleeverelative to the plunger 70 the inclined surface 76 will first engage theplunger and then the ridge 74; and, when the rotation of the. sleeveceases, the plunger 70 will be located in normal position against thesurface 75 and the ridge 7%. The relative motion between the plunger 70and sleeve 52, as the sleeve 52 returns to normal is represented by thearrow 98 in Fig. 3. Relative to the sleeve 52, the plunger moves fromthe position represented at 70d in Fig. 3 to the normal position 70. Allof the parts of the apparatus have been restored to normal positionafter the pedal has been released.

Provided the pin 50 and sleeve 52 are in normal relation before thepedal -10 is pressed, the motor switch cannot be closed until after thepinion 26 has been substantially meshed with the engine gear 22. Thisfeature is due to the fact that the lever 43 is not permitted to engagethe motor switch actuator e5 un til after the sleeve 52 has pushed thepinion 26 against the gear 22, has rotated the pinion into meshingregistration with the gear and has pushed the pinion into substantialmesh with the gear as shown in Fig. 8. This feature insures asubstantial en agement of the gear before the motor switch is closed andthereby avoids the breakage of gear teeth which would be likely to occurif the area of tooth contact pressure were but very slight at the timethe full power of the motor comes on. Provided that the pin 50 andsleeve 52 are at normal relation when the starting operation isinitiated, the plunger 70 will cooperate with the sleeve in such manneras to cause the sleeve to perform the functions described. One of thefeatures of the type of starter to which the present invention may beapplied is the means for compelling the operator to restore to normalthe relation between the pin and the sleeve before the operation ofstarting can be repeated. It will be noted that if the operator releasesthe pedal at least suficiently to effect the rotation of the lug 77 fromthe position shown in full lines to the position 77a in dot and dashlines in Fig. 10, depressing the pedal again in order to move the sleeveendwise toward the pinion will cause the lug 77 to engage the plunger70, thereby preventing further movement of the sleeve toward the pinion.Therefore if the lever has been re- 7 leased to this extent the operatorcannot repeat the starting operation unless he first releases the pedalto permit the normal relation of the sleeve and plunger and pin andsleeve to be restored or in other words, to remove the obstructionprovided by the side edge 79 of the lug 77. If, however, the pedal isreleased only slightly, for example, sufficiently to open the motorswitch but not enough to locate the lug 77 in longitudinal alignmentwith the end of the plunger 70, depressing the pedal again will not movethe sleeve sufficiently to move the pinion into contact with the enginegear, although, the closing of the motor switch will be permitted.

The sum of the clearances between the sleeve and the pinion and thepinion and gear shown in Fig. 9 is such that counterclockwise rotationof the lever 43 is stopped by the motor switch before the pinion can bemoved into contact with the gear. Therefore, under no condition can atrick manipulation of the pedal be performed in order to bring about theclosing of the motor switch while the ends of the pinion teeth are onlypressed into engagement with the ends of the gear teeth. The lug 77 istherefore effective in preventing the re-engagement of the pinion withthe engine gear unless the sleeve 52 has first been returned to aposit-ion permitting the re-engagenient of the plunger 7 O with theportions 7 5 and 74; of the sleeve extension 73, orunless the pin andoblique slot 51 have been restored to the normal relation which isnecessary before the sleeve can be caused to perform its usualfunctions, namely, moving the pinion endwise into engagement with theengine gear, rotating the pinion into gear meshing registration with theengine gear and then pushing the pinion part way into mesh with theengine gear before closing the motor switch.

In case that rotation of the pinion while being pressed against theengine gear is not abnormally resisted, the operation of the starterwill be as described heretofore. It occasionally happens that, due tovarious causes, the abutting surfaces of the pinion and gear may engageendto-end in such manner as to interlock and prevent rotating the pinionrelative to gear in the normal direction in order to overcome gear toothabutment. Vhen this interlocking occurs, there was heretofore no way ofrelieving the interlock by continuing to press the starter pedal. Thepresent invention however, provides that, in case of interlock (offeringabnormal resistance to rotation of the pinion in the direction ofrotation which manual operation of the sleeve tends to produce),continuing the endwise movement of the sleeve 52 will effect rotation ofthe sleeve clutch 56 in the opposite direction in order to relieve theinterlock and to rotate the pinion into meshing registration with theengine gear. This is accomplished by the tang-and-oblique-slotconnections 156, 157 between the sleeve 52 and its clutch 56. Normallythe spring 158 will not give way sufficiently to permit the tang 156 tomove into the oblique portion of the slot 157. Under abnormal conditionseach,

tang will be moved by further operation of the pedal from the tangposition 156a to the tang position 1566 indicated in Fig. 14. In orderthat the clutch 56 will be rotated relative to the sleeve, the sleeveshould be prevented from rotating. This is accomplished by providing thesleeve with the relatively abrupt shoulder 74a located between theportions 7 5a and 74 of the sleeve part 73 as shown particularly in Fig.15. This shoulder 74a is engaged by the plunger while the sleeve 52 isbeing moved endwise relative to the clutch 56 to relieve theinterlocking effect. More specifically while each tang 156 is moving,relatively from the position 156a to the position 1565 indicated in Fig.14, the plunger 70 is moving from the position 706 toward the position 7Of. The shoulder 74a is made so abrupt that, due to its engagement withthe plunger 70, the sleeve cannot turn counterclockwise as viewed fromthe left in Fig. 20. Hence the sleeve 52 will not rotate but will causethe clutch 56 and pinion 26' to rotate clockwise asviewed from the leftof Fig. 20 in order to relieve the abnormal condition of gear toothabutment.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

gear of an engine to be started, axially engag able clutch members, thedriven member being provided by the pinion, movable endwise upon theshaft, a sleeve movable along the shaft and connected with the drivingclutch member, a manually operable part movable alongside the shaft,means so connecting the part and sleeve that movement of said part tendsto produce endwise and rotary movement of the sleeve normally in acertain direction, means yieldingly resisting rotation of the sleevewhile the pinion is being moved against the engine gear and thereafterpermitting the sleeve to be rotated, connections between the sleeve anddriving clutch providing for rotation of the latter by the former andproviding a limited amount of longitudinal movement of one part relativeto the other, a spring for urging the driving clutch member away fromthe sleeve and toward the driven clutch, the connections between theclutch and sleeve providing for rotating the clutch member in adirection opposite to that normally produced by the sleeve in case thesleeve is moved an abnormal amount endwise before the pinion rotates,and means for preventing rotation of the sleeve While it is being movedendwise the abnormal amount relative to the pinion.

2. Engine starting-apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft driven thereby, a pinion driven by the shaft and movable endwiseinto mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, amanually operable member movable along the shaft for the purpose ofmoving the pinion into mesh with the engine gear, a sleeve movable alongsaid shaft, connections between said sleeve and member such that themember tends to impart linear and rotary movement in a certain directionto the sleeve, means for yieldingly resisting rotary movement of thesleeve until the pinion engages the gear while permitting rotation ofthe sleeve in case gear tooth abutment occurs, means for impartingrotation in either directionfrom the sleeve to the pinion, and meansoperative in case rotation of the pinion in said certain direction isabnormally resisted and operative in response to further linear movementof the sleeve, for rotating the pinion in the opposite direction.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft driven thereby, a pinion driven by the shaft and movable endwiseinto mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, amanually operable member movable along the shaft for the purpose ofmoving the pinion into mesh with the engine gear, a sleeve movable alongsaid shaft, connections between said sleeve and member such that thememberv tends'to impart linear and rotary movement in a certaindirection to the sleeve, means for yieldingly resisting rotary movementof the sleeve until the pinion engages the gear whilepermitting rotationof the sleeve in case gear tooth abutment occurs, said means comprisinga spring urged plunger p'art'extending transversely with respect to saidsleeve and a longitudinally extending relatively gradual shoulder partengaged by said plunger, one of said parts being movable with saidsleeve, clutch members for imparting rotation in either direction fromthe sleeve to the pinion, one of said clutch members being connectedwith the sleeve and the other with the pinion, means connecting thesleeve with its clutch member so as to provide for rotating the clutchin the opposite direction to normal in response to endwise movement ofthe sleeve relative to its clutch, a spring normally preventing rotationof the clutch relatively to the sleeve but yieldable to permit suchrotation in case rotation of the sleeve by the manually operable memberis abnormally resisted, and means for preventing rotation of the sleevewhile moving endwise relative to the clutch, said means including thebeforementioned plunger and a relatively abrupt longitudinally extendingshoulder engageable therewith.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft driven thereby, a piniondrivcn by the shaft and movable endwiseinto mesh with a gear connected with the engine to be started, amanually operable member movable along the shaft for the purpose ofmoving the pinion into mesh with the engine gear, a sleeve movable alongsaid shaft, connections between said sleeve and member such that themember tends to impart linear and rotary movement in a certain directionto the sleeve, means for yieldingly resisting rotary movement of thesleeve until the pinion engages the gear while permitting rotation ofthe sleeve in case gear tooth abutment occurs, said means comprising aspring urged plunger movable radially relative to the sleeve and arelatively gradual, longitudinally extending shoulder provided by thesleeve, a stationary guide for the plunger, clutch members for impartingrotation in either direction from the sleeve to the pinion, one memberbeing provided by the pinion and the other connected with the sleeve, anoblique spline connection between the sleeve and its clutch providingfor limited linear and rotary movement of the clutch and its sleeve, onerelative to the other, a spring resisting relative movement between theclutch and its sleeve, said spring yielding to permit rotation of theclutch by the sleeve in case rotation of the sleeve by the manuallyoperable member is abnormally resisted, and means for preventingrotation of the sleeve while moving endwise relative to the clutch, saidmeans including the beforementioned plunger and a relatively abruptlongitudinally extending shoulder engageable therewith and provided bythe sleeve substantially injlongitudinal alignment withtheaforementioned less abrupt shoulder.

5. Engine starting apparatus cor-uprising, in combination, a motor,means for connecting the motor with gear of an engine to be started,said means comprising a pinion driven by the motor and movable endwiseinto mesh with the engine gear and provision whereby the pinion will beautomatically disconnected from the engine gear when the engine starts,axially engageable clutch members movable longitudinally of the pinion,the driven member being provided by the pinion, a sleeve connected withthe driving clutch member, a manually operable part movable alongsidethe sleeve, means so connecting the part and sleeve tiat movement ofsaid part tends to produce endwise and rotary movement of the sleevenormally in a certain direction, means yieldingly resisting rotation ofthe sleeve while the pinion isv being moved against the engine gear andthereafter permitting the sleeve to be rotated, connections oetween thesleeve and driving clutch providing for rotation of the latter by theformer and providing a limited amount of longitudinal movement of onepart relative to the other, a spring for urging the driving clutchmember away from the sleeve and toward the driven clutch, theconnections between the clutch and sleeve providing for rotating theclutch member in a direction opposite to that normally produced by thesleeve in case the sleeve is moved an abnormal amount endwise before thepinion rotates, and means for preventing rotation of the sleeve while itis being moved endwise the abnormal amount relative to the pinion.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, meansfor connect ing the motor with a gear of an engine to be started, saidmeans comprising a pinion driven by the motor and movable endwise intomesh with the engine gear and provision whereby the pinion will beautomatically disconnected from the engine gear when the engine starts,a manually operable member movable longitudinally of the axis of thepinion for the purpose of moving the pinion into mesh with the enginegear, and mechanism actuated by the member and operable to move thepinion against the gear and 0p erable normally to rotate the pinion in acertain direction into meshing registration with the engine gear incase-a gear tooth abutment occurs which resists rotation of the pinionwith at most a normal amount of resistance, said mechanism includinprovisions operable, in case rotation of the pinion in said certaindirection is opposed by an abnormal amount of resistance, to rotate thepinion in the opposite direction in response to further linear movementof said member in the di-,

" gine gear.

7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started, axially engageable clutchmembers, the driven nember being provided by the pinion, movable endwiseupon the shaft, a sleeve movable along the shaft and connected with thedriving clutch member, a manually operable part movable alongside theshaft, means so connecting the part and sleeve that movement of saidpart tends to produce endwise and rotary movement of the sleeve normallyin a certain direction, means yieldingly resisting rotation of thesleeve while the pinion is being moved against the engine gear andthereafter permitting the sleeve to be rotated, connections between thesleeve and driving clutch providing for rotation of the latter by theformer and providing a limited amount of longitudinal movement of onepart relative to the other, a spring for urging the driving clutchmemberaway from the sleeve and toward the driven clutch, the connectionsbetween the clutch and sleeve providing for rotating the clutch memberin a direction opposite to that normally produced by the sleeve in casethe sleeve is moved an abnormal amount endwise before the pinionrotates, and means ior preventing rotation of the sleeve While it isbeing moved endwise the abnormal amount relative to the pinion.

8. Engine starting apparatus comprising. in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started, a manually operable membermovable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pinion into meshwith the engine gear, and mechanism actuated by the member and operableto move the pinion against the gear and operable normally to rotate thepinion in a certain direction into meshing registration with the enginegear in case a gear tooth abutment occurs which resists rotation of thepinion with at most a normal amount of resistance, said mechanismincluding provisions operable, in case rotation of the pinion in saidcertain direction is opposedby an abnormal amount of resistance, torotate the pinion in the opposite direction in response to furtherlinear movement of said member in t is direction for meshing the pinionwith the engine gear.

9. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnectedwith the engine to be started, a manually operable membermovable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pinion into mesnwith the engine gear, a sleeve movable along said shaft, connectionsbetween said sleeve and member such that the member tends to impartlinear and rotary movement in a certain direction to the sleeve, meansfor yieldingly resisting rotary move ment of the sleeve until the pinionengages the gear while permitting rotation of the sleeve in case geartooth abutment occurs, means for imparting rotation in either oirectionfrom the sleeve to the pinion, and means operative in case rotation ofthe pinion in said certain direction is abnormally resisted andoperative in response to further linear movement of the sleeve, forrotating the pinion in the opposite direction.

10. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started, a manually operable membermovable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pin ion into meshwith the engine gear, a sleeve movable along said shaft, connect-ionsbetween said sleeve and member such that the member tends to impartlinear and rotary movement in a certain direction to the sleeve, meansfor yieldingly resisting rotary move ment of the sleeve until the pinionengages the gear while permitting rotation of the sleeve in case geartooth abutment occurs, said means comprising a spring urged plungor partextending transversely with respect to said sleeve and a longitudinallyextending relatively gradual shoulder part ongaged by said plunger, oneof said parts be-- ing movable with said sleeve, clutch mem bers forimparting rotation in either direction from the sleeve to the pinion,one of said clutch members being connected with the sleeve and the otherwith the pinion, means connecting the sleeve with its clutch member soas to provide for rotating the clutch in the opposite direction tonormal in response to endwise movement of the sleeve relative to itsclutch, a spring normally preventing rotation of the clutch relativelyto the sleeve but yieldable to permit such rotation in case rotation ofthe sleeve by the manually operable member is abnormally resisted, andmeans for preventing rotation of the sleeve while moving endwiserelative to the clutch, said means including the beforementioned plungerand a relatively abrupt longitudinally extending shoulder ongageabletherewith.

11. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor,.ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a piniondriven by said splines and movable there along endwise into mesh with agear connected with the engine to be started, a manually operable membermovable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pinion into meshwith the engine gear, a sleeve movable along said shaft, connectionsbetween said sleeve and member such that the member tends to impartlinear and rotary movement in a certain direction to the sleeve, meansfor yieldingly resisting rotary movement of the sleeve until the pinionengages the gear while permitting rotation of the sleeve in case geartooth abutment occurs, said means comprising a spring urged plungermovable radially relative to the sleeve and a relatively gradual,longitudinally extending shoulder provided bv the sleeve. a stationaryguide for the plunger, clutch members for imparting r0- tati on ineither direction from the sleeve to the pinion, one member beingprovided by the pinion and the other connected with the sleeve, anoblique spline connection between the sleeve and its clut h providingfor limited linear and rot: movement of the clutch and its sleeve, onerelative to the other, a spring resisting relative movement between theclutch and its sleeve, said spring yielding "-0 permit rotation of theclutch by the sleeve case rotation of the sleeve by the manuallyoperable member is abnormally resisted, and means for preventingrotation of the sleeve while moving endwise relative to the clutch, saidmeans including the beforementioned plunger and a relatively abruptlongitudinally extending shoulder engageable therewith and provided bythe sleeve substantially in longitudinal alignment with theaforementioned less abrupt shoulder.

12. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started, axially engageable clutchmembers, the driven member being provided by the pinion, movable endwiseupon the shaft, a sleeve movable along the shaft and connected with thedriving clutch member, a manually operable part movable alongside theshaft, means so connecting the part and sleeve that movement of saidpart tends to produce endwise and rotary movement of the sleeve normallyin a certain direction, means yieldingly resisting rotation of thesleeve while V the inion is being moved a ainst the on he gear andthereafter permitting the sleeve to be rotated, connections between thesleeve and driving clutch providing for rotation of the latter by theformer and providing a limited amount of longitudinal movement of onepart relative to the other, a spring for urging the driving clutchmember away from the sleeve and toward the driven clutch, theconnections between the clutch and sleeve providing for rotating theclutch member in a direction opposite to that normally produced by thesleeve in case the sleeve is moved an abnormal amount endwise before thepinion rotates, means for preventing rotation of the sleeve while it isbeing moved endwise the abnormal amount relative to the pinion, andprovisions whereby the sleeve will automatically be retracted from theengine gear before the engine starts, regardless of whether the manuallyoperable part has been released.

13. Engine starting apparatus .compris' ing, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started, a manually operable membermovable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pinion into meshwith the engine gear, mechanism-actuated by the member and operable tomove the pinion. against the gear and operable normally to rotate thepinion in a certain direction into meshing registration with the enginegear in case a gear tooth abutment occurs which resists rotation of thepinion with at most a normal amount of resistance, said mechanismincluding provisions operable, in case rotation of the pinion in saidcertain directionis opposed by an abnormal amount of resistance, torot-ate the pinion in the opposite direction in response to furtherlinear movement of said member in the direction for meshing the pinionwith he engine gear, and provisions whereby said pinion moving mechanismwill automatically be retracted from the pinion before the enginestarts, regardless of whether the manually operable part has beenreleased.

14. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a pinion drivenby saidsplines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gearconnected with the engine to be started, a manually operable membermovable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pinion into meshwith the engine gear, a sleeve movable along said shaft, connections between said sleeve and member such that the member tends to impart linearand rotary movement in a certain direction to the sleeve, means foryieldingly resisting rotary movement of the sleeve until the pinionengages the gear while permitting rotation of the sleeve in case geartooth abutment occurs, means for imparting rotation in either directionfrom the sleeve to the pinion, means operative in case rotation of thepinion in said certain direction is abnormally resisted and operative inresponse to further linear movement of the sleeve, for rotating thepinion in the opposite direction, and provisions whereby the sleeve willbe automatically retracted from the pinion before the engine startsregardless of whether the manually operable member has been released.

15. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor,-a pinion drivenby said splines and movable therealong endwise into mesh with a gear thesleeve until the pinion engages the gear while permitting rotation ofthe-sleeve in case gear tooth abutment occurs, said. means comprises aspring urged plungerpartextending transversely with respect to saidsleeve and a longitudinally extending relatively gradual shoulder partengaged by said plunger, one of said parts being movable with saidsleeve,clutch members for imparting rotation in either direction fromthe sleeve tothe pinion, oneof'saicl clutch 'members being connectedwith the sleeve and the other with the pinion, means connecting thesleeve with its clutch'member so as to provide for rotating the clutchin the opposite direction to normal in response to endwise movement ofthe sleeve relative to its clutch, a spring normally preventing rotationof the clutch relatively to the sleeve but yieldable to permit suchrotation in case rotation of the sleeve by the manually operable memberis abnormally resisted, means for preventing rotation of the sleevewhile moving endwise relative to the clutch, said means including thebeforementioned plunger and a relatively abrupt longitudinally extendingshoulder engageable therewith, and provisions whereby the sleeve will beautomatically retracted from the pinion before the engine starts,regardless of whether the manually operabl member has been released. 1 s

16. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ashaft provided with helical splines driven by the motor, a

pinion driven by said splines and movable therealong endwise into meshwith a gear connected with the engine'tobe started, a manually operablemember movable along the shaft for the purpose of moving the pinion intomesh with the engine gear, asleeve movable along said shaft, connectionsbetween said sleeve and member such that the member tends to impartlinear and rotary movement in a certain direction to the sleeve, meansfor yieldingly resisting rotary movement of the sleeve until the pinionengages the gear while permitting rotation of the sleeve in case geartooth abutment occurs, said means comprising a spring urged plungermovable radially relative to the sleeve and a relatively gradual,longitudinally extending shoulder provided by the sleeve, a stationaryguide for the plunger, clutch members for imparting rotation in eitherdirection from the sleeve to the pinion, one'member being provided bythe pinion and the other connected with the sleeve, an oblique splineconnection between the sleeve and its clutch pro viding for limitedlinear and rotary movement of the clutch and its sleeve, one relative tothe other, a spring resisting relative movement between the clutch andits sleeve, said spring yielding to permit rotation of the clutch by thesleeve in case rotation of the sleeve by the manually operable member isabnormally resisted, means for preventing rotation of the sleeve whilemoving endwise relative to the clutch, said means including thebeforementioned plunger and a relatively abrupt longitudinally extendingshoulder engageable therewith and provided by the sleeve substantiallyin longitudinal alignment with the aforementioned less abrupt shoulder,and provisions whereby the sleeve will be automaticallyretracted fromthe pinion before the engine starts, regardless of whether themanually-operable member has been released. v

17. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, meansfor connecting the motor with an engine to be started and including apinion movable endwise along the shaft driven by the motor and into meshwith a gear connected with the engine, and including provisions wherebythe pinion will be automatically disconnected from the engine gear whenthe engine starts, a pinion pushing and turning member movable alongsaid shaft, and manually operable means for axially moving and rotatingsaid member and comprising a sleeve movable along said shaft and havingan oblique slot receiving an actuating pin, means for connecting thesleeve and the pinion pushing and turning member, said means providingfor relative longitudinal movement between the sleeve and member and forrelative rotary movement accompanying said relativelongitudinal-movement, said member tending to rotate relative to thesleeve in a direction opposite to that in which the sleeve tends torotate when actuated by the pin, yielding means for holding the sleeveand pinion pushing and rotating member in extended relation, and meansfor resisting rotation of the sleeve.

18. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, meansfor connectingthe motor with an engine to be started and including apinion movable endwise along the shaft driven by the motor and into meshwith a gear connected with the engine, and including provisions wherebythe pinion will be automatically disconnectedfrom the engine gear whenthe engine starts, axially engageable clutch members movable along theshaft, the driven member being provided by the pinion, manually operablemeans for axially moving and rotating said driving clutch member andcomprising a sleeve movable along said shaft and having an oblique slotreceiving an actuating pin, means for connecting the sleeve and drivingclutch member and providing for relative longitudinal movement betweenthe sleeve and driving clutch member and for relative rotary movementaccompanying. said relative longitudinal movement, said driving clutchmember tending to rotate relative to said sleeve ina direction oppositeto that in which the sleeve tends to rotate when actuated by the pin,yielding means for holding the sleeve and driving clutch member inextended relation and means for resisting rotation of the sleeve;

19. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, meansfor connecting the motor with an engine to be started and including apinion movable endwise along the shaft driven by the motor and into meshwith a gear connected with the engine, and including provisions wherebythe pinion will be automatically disconnected from the engine gear whenthe engine starts, axially engageable clutch members movable along theshaft, the driven member being provided by the pinion, manually operablemeans for axially moving and rotating said driving clutch member andcomprising a sleeve movable along said shaft and having an oblique slotreceiving an actuating pin, an oblique slot provided by said sleeve forreceiving a lug connected with the driving clutch member, said lastmentioned oblique slot extending in a. direction transverse to the firstmentioned oblique slot of the sleeve,"yielding means for holding thesleeve and driving clutch member in extended relation and means forresisting rotation of the sleeve.

20. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ahelically splined shaft driven by the motor, a pinion drivinglyconnected with said splines and movable therealong into mesh with a gearof an engine to be started, said pinion being provided with a clutchmember, a driving clutch member axially engageable with the pinionclutch member and movable along said shaft, manually operable means foraxially moving and rotating said driving clutch member and comp-rising asleeve movable along said shaft and having an oblique slot receiving anactuating pin, an oblique slot provided by said sleeve for receiving alug connected with the driving clutch memher, said last mentionedobliqueslot extencling in a direction transverse to the first mentioned obliqueslot of the sleeve, yielding means for holding the sleeve and drivingclutch member in extended relation and means for resisting rotation ofthe sleeve.

21. Engine starting apparatus, comprising, in combination, a motor, ahelically splined shaft driven by the motor, a pinion drivinglyconnected with said splines and movable therealong into mesh with a gearof an engine to be started, said pinion being provided with a clutchmember, a driving clutch member axially engageable with the pinionclutch member and movable along said shaft, manually operable means foraxially moving and rotating said driving clutch member and comprising asleeve movable along said shaft, and having an oblique slot receiving anactuating pin; an oblique slot provided by said sleeve for receiving alug connected with the driving clutch member, said last mentionedoblique slot'extending in a direction transverse to the iirst mentionedoblique slot of the sleeve, a spring encircling the shaft for holdingthe sleeve and driving clutch in extended relation, means for yieldinglyresisting rotary movement of the sleeve until the pinion engages thegear while permitting rotation of the sleeve in case gear tooth abutmentoccurs, said means comprising a spring urged plunger part extendingtransversely with respect to said sleeve and a longitudinally extendingrela tively gradual shoulder part engaged by said plunger, one of saidparts being movable with said sleeve, and means for preventing rotationof the sleeve While moving endwise relative to the clutch, said meansincluding the beforementioned plunger and a relative ly abruptlongitudinally extending shoulder engageable therewith.

22. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, a motor, ahelically splined shaft driven by the motor, a pinion drivinglyconnected with said splines and movable therealong into mesh with a gearof an engine to be started, said pinion being provided with a clutchmember, a driving clutch member axially engageable With the pinionclutch member and movable along said shaft, manually operable means foraxially moving and rotating said driving clutch member and comprising asleeve movable along said shaft and having an oblique slot receiving anactuating pin; an oblique slot provided by said sleeve for receiving alug connected with the driving clutch member, said last mentionedoblique slot extending in a direction transverse to the first mentionedoblique slot of the sleeve, a spring encircling the shaft for holdingthe sleeve and driving clutch in extended relation, means for yieldinglyresisting rotary movement of the sleeve until the pinion engages thegear While permitting rotation of the sleeve in case gear tooth abutmentoccurs, said means comprising a spring urged plunger movable radiallyrelative to the sleeve and a relatively gradual, longitudinallyextending shoulder provided by the sleeve, a stationary guide signature.

RALPH BERTSCHE, JR.

